Hurricanes Announce Coaching Changes for 2008-09

RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that Tom Rowe will serve as an assistant coach for the team beginning with the 2008-09 season. Current Hurricanes assistant coach Jeff Daniels will serve as head coach and general manager for Carolina’s top minor-league affiliate, the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL). Rutherford also announced that the Hurricanes have hired former player Robert Kron as the team’s new European scout.

“This is a great opportunity for Jeff’s career at this point, to be a head coach and run his own team,” said Rutherford. “The addition of Tom Rowe brings some new ideas to our coaching staff on the NHL level.”

Rowe recently completed his fourth season as the head coach and general manager of the Hurricanes top minor-league affiliate, and his second year as head coach and general manager of the Albany River Rats. In 2007-08, he led the River Rats to a record of 43-30-3-4 and their second consecutive playoff berth, and his career AHL coaching record stands at 156-130-14-20 in 320 total games behind the bench. A native of Lynn, MA, Rowe began his coaching career with Lowell (AHL) in 2004-05, helping the Lock Monsters earn their best finish in franchise history with a record of 47-27-1-5. Prior to being promoted to head coach, Rowe spent three seasons as an assistant coach for Lowell. He also has experience as a U.S. scout and served as the assistant general manager of the Hartford Whalers from 1990-1992. Originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round of the 1976 NHL Entry Draft, Rowe played eight seasons of professional hockey in the NHL and AHL, totaling 85 goals and 185 points in 357 NHL contests with Washington, Hartford and Detroit. In the 1978-79 season, he became the first American player to score at least 30 goals in a season, finishing tied with Dennis Maruk for the Capitals’ team lead with 31 goals.

Daniels completed his 11th year with the franchise and fourth as a Hurricanes assistant coach in 2007-08. Prior to joining the coaching staff, he served in a player-development capacity in the team’s front office. Born in Oshawa, Ont., Daniels retired as a player on Nov. 17, 2003, after totaling 17 goals and 26 assists (43 points) in 425 career NHL games with Pittsburgh, Florida, Nashville and Carolina. He has his name on the Stanley Cup as a player on the 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins and a coach for the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes.

Kron, 41, was originally drafted into the NHL by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round, 88th overall, of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Canucks during the 1990-91 season, and went on to total 144 goals and 194 assists (338 points) in 771 career games with Vancouver, Hartford, Carolina and Columbus. The Brno, Czech Republic, native completed his playing career with Lukko Rauma of the Finnish league during the 2002-03 season and has resided in the Raleigh area since his retirement.